It was not only an eighth league match without victory that made this another miserable afternoon for Alan Curbishley. Having approached the transfer window like a last-minute Christmas shopper, the West Ham manager appears to have picked up more damaged goods. Matthew Upson lasted 30 minutes on his West Ham debut before limping off to join Lucas Neill, another new recruit, on the sidelines. It seems there is no end to the melancholy enveloping West Ham.

Aston Villa added to that sense of despair, with Martin O'Neill's side collecting a merited three points through John Carew's well taken goal. The Villa manager need not waste any more time looking over his shoulder, with any relegation fears now allayed. The same cannot be said for West Ham, the visitors' frantic attempts at a late equaliser failing to stop the rot. With Wigan triumphing over Portsmouth, there is now a five-point gap to be bridged to reach safety.

It took Villa six minutes to exploit Upson's absence, although the goal had been coming long before the defender departed. Lifeless up front and devoid of ideas in midfield, West Ham's backline were under incessant pressure during the first half. Ashley Young brought a fine save from Roy Carroll, Gavin McCann shot narrowly wide and Stilian Petrov skimmed the roof of the net before the inevitable breakthrough arrived.

It was goal that suggested O'Neill, unlike his West Ham counterpart, has spent wisely during January. Having troubled Newcastle in midweek with their pace and physical presence, Young and Carew were at it again here, the two combining seamlessly to put Villa ahead. Young picked up possession inside the West Ham half before threading a pass into Carew's path that the Norway striker confidently steered past Carroll from the edge of the area.

It was nothing more than Villa deserved. Thomas Sorensen in the home goal had been a spectator in the opening 45 minutes, with Calum Davenport, a central defender, producing West Ham's only notable attempt on goal. At the opposite end Carroll was much busier and not only because of Villa's attacking threat. The West Ham goalkeeper squared up to Jonathan Spector after the full-back meekly conceded possession. 'That's why you're going down,' chanted the Villa fans.

Half time could not come quickly enough for West Ham. The visitors badly needed to regroup, although a familiar pattern emerged after the restart. West Ham evinced more passion, but it was Villa still largely in control. A second goal might have followed in the 53rd minute but Young dragged his shot wide. McCann was even closer seven minutes later, his left-foot drive skimming past the upright.

Petrov brought a fine save from Carroll, but it was in the home penalty area where all the late goalmouth action took place. Matthew Etherington's volley was tipped over by Sorensen in the 89th minute before the Villa keeper denied Davenport from eight yards and then saw George McCartney head against the crossbar. It was too little, too late.